Today we’d like to introduce you to Felix Jaimes.
Hi Felix, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story began in my early childhood years where I began drawing dinosaurs, cars, and comic book characters. As a kid coming from Immigrant parents, I was taught English in school, taking ESL (English as a Second Language) classes from Kindergarten up to 3rd grade. I am the first generation born and raised in Austin, Texas, and my parents are from Mexico.
In middle school and high school, I was the kid drawing everyone’s name so they could slip the drawing I made in their binder cover. My high school teachers noticed me always drawing and asked what I wanted to do with my talents after high school graduation. I said I was too poor to pursue any of my dreams, and one teacher said to me, “You can make anything happen.”
While at work, flipping burgers at Sonic, I got a phone call from The Art Institute of Austin saying I came highly recommended by a few teachers from my high school. I couldn’t pass this opportunity up, so I went for a tour and applied that same day. While in college, I founded and was president of the Art Institute of Austin Street Art Club, was a full-time student, and an RA (Residential Assistant) overseeing ten buildings of student dorms.
Shortly before graduation, I realized I needed to find a job quickly so that I can afford housing for myself and my then-girlfriend, now wife. At the time, the only job I managed to find was as a dishwasher at a Mexican restaurant only a few miles away from school. Being a dishwasher was a reality check for me and opened my eyes to what I needed to do for myself to succeed and hopefully never have to return to that job again. After that, I became an apprentice to Larry Perez, an original Texan hand sign painter. This is where my love for lettering and design became clear to me.
I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic & Web Design and immediately knew I wanted to have my own design business. My love and career as a graffiti artist were also on the rise and I decided to blend my design skills with my lettering and illustration skills. Needless to say, I haven’t stopped the hustle, and if anything, I feel like I am just now getting started! The last ten years in my career were basically me putting in my dues, and now I am getting ready to see just how far I can go with this.
My name is Felix Jaimes, and I’m also known as Snuk One in the Austin art community. I am the Founding Designer and Principal UX Consultant of Forty4 Design. I’m Co-Owner of Vandals Container, a local graffiti art supply shop in Pflugerville, TX. I’m an Austin-based Graffiti Mural Artist.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My life has had its ups and downs, but to say it’s been a smooth road would be a lie. I’ve had so many challenges along the way, but one of the biggest challenges I faced was the beginning of my entrepreneurial career. I refused to give up on my dreams, even if that meant getting into arguments with my wife and family because of the financial hardships we faced. A daily struggle I had was waking up figuring out how I was going to make rent, bills, and put food on the table. I can, however say, that every obstacle I’ve faced, I took as an opportunity to reflect, learn, and grow.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
As a multidisciplinary designer, I am a UI/UX Designer – A digital product designer focused on design for web & mobile apps and how a user interacts with said digital products. My goal is to create seamless and frictionless interactions between a user and a product. I am also a branding designer helping brands build a consistent identity, whether that’s print or digital.
As a graffiti and mural artist, my primary area of focus is lettering and color. Being an apprentice to an original hand sign painter piqued my interest in pursuing hand lettering but adding a graffiti twist to it. While in college, I took color theory classes and typography classes, so letters have been instilled into the work that I do.
I think what sets me apart from others is the unique blend of graphic and web design skills, mixed with my marketing knowledge and graffiti mural style. Mash all of those skills together and that’s basically what I do on a daily basis. If I’m not in my office working on a website, logo design, or email marketing, I’m out painting a mural and sharing my creativity with the community.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My biggest supporter has been my wife Lili Trevino and my brother Tony Jaimes. My wife and I have been together for ten years, and she was there through the struggles. My brother has also been a huge part of my growth and has always been there for me when I needed him the most, and even when I just needed a ride to the grocery store.
Contact Info:
- Email: hello@snukone.com
- Website: https://snukone.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snukone/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Snukone/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SnukOne_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVu7Mhw_SpMLFHPB4985qyQ
- Other: https://forty4.design/
Image Credits
Ed Vela
